Super Bowl Champs and Must-See Matchups: Which Seahawks Games Will Get Primetime Slots in 2026?

In about 48 hours, the Seattle Seahawks will have their 2026 regular season schedule unveiled. As Super Bowl champions, expect the national spotlight to shine bright on Mike Macdonald's team. Their schedule is loaded with potential glamor games that could easily land in primetime or as the main fixture of a Sunday doubleheader. Let's predict where the Seahawks will show up on national TV this year.

The Primetime Limits and How They Work

Here's what you need to know about how the NFL structures these games. Teams are allowed a maximum of six primetime games, with a seventh permitted for Week 18. The same divisional matchup is no longer allowed to be in primetime twice. A game that airs on national TV but not primetime doesn't count toward that limit, but no team can have more than eight standalone non-regional games.

Opening Night and the Early Season Showdowns

Opening night opponent (NBC) versus the Chicago Bears. It's either the Bears or New England Patriots, and the immediate Super Bowl rematch hasn't touched opening day in recent years. The Bears were arguably the most entertaining team to watch last season, purely for how chaotic their finishes tended to be. The NFL would love to have the big-market Bears open against the champs.

Sunday Night Football (NBC) versus the Los Angeles Rams feels like a lock. The best game of the 2025 regular season and a classic NFC Championship just a few weeks later demands primetime love. I'd be shocked if neither Rams matchup made it to a nighttime kickoff.

Monday Night Football (ABC/ESPN) at San Francisco 49ers is almost guaranteed. The NFC West was won in Week 18 in Santa Clara last year. Whether the 49ers will contend or not, this rivalry sits at the top tier and networks have regularly made this a primetime game. The last time a Seahawks-49ers showdown wasn't flexed into national TV or primetime was 2020.

The Rest of the Primetime Picture

Thursday Night Football (Prime Video) at Denver Broncos could land here. Prime Video typically gets a lot of divisional games on its schedule, but this could be one of those exceptions.

Christmas Day (Netflix) versus the Kansas City Chiefs is a real possibility. Netflix has a Christmas Day doubleheader on Friday, with the late game kicking off at 1:30 pm PT. In a scheduling oddity, the last two Seahawks-Chiefs games have been scheduled for Christmas-ish, so this could be the third time in a row these former AFC West foes clash in December. Patrick Mahomes makes only his second regular season appearance in Seattle while marking a notable matchup for the defending champs.

The regional and main doubleheader bin (FOX or CBS) will likely feature divisional matchups against the Arizona Cardinals, with both home and away tilts on the schedule.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.